The PhytoGEM is a rapid, robust DNA extraction device for plant based DNA which can extract DNA in under 15 minutes. The compact size means it can easily be placed in a laminar flow hood, on the benchtop or taken directly into a field environment

2 versions are available the PhytoGEM and PhytoGEMO MINI.

The PhytoGEM PDQex2400 is a 24 sample extractor, mains operated, with a small footprint (200 x 200 mm). Whereas the PhytoGEM MINI is a 16 sample extractor that can be operated on battery or mains power.

Extraction of DNA from plant samples by current methods is laborious and difficult. ZyGEM has developed a simple technique for collecting cells from leaves, seeds, roots, stems and cotyledons while providing a storage option and generating PCR-ready DNA. The cell collection takes less than a minute. Using ZyGEM’s PDQeX technology for DNA extraction, total processing time is approximately 15 minutes from a plant sample to PCR-ready DNA. The phytoGEM collection cards allow for plant samples to be stored at room temperature for months at a time, removing the need for freezing of samples and cold storage. As the PDQeX machine is small and lightweight, collection and extraction can be done in the greenhouse with no need to take samples back to the lab.

Extracting DNA from plants can be challenging because of their tough cell walls and the inhibitory polysaccharides and tannins released during the extraction process. Currently available methods address these difficulties by using tissue grinding followed by silica beads, columns or organic solvents. These procedures are multistep making them labour intensive and time-consuming.

The phytoGEM extraction system is a simple closed-tube method for extracting PCR-ready plant DNA. It uses a collection tool that crushes the material onto storages cards. Punches from the card are lysed using an aggressive thermophilic proteinase combined with a cocktail of cell wall degrading glycosyl hydrolases. The extraction is performed automatically in the ZyGEM PDQeX2400 device which both lyses the cells and purifies the DNA through a proprietary polymer matrix.

All-up, it takes around 15 minutes to go from leaf to DNA … And most of that time is hands-off.